Permission To Seek

Chapter 32 Shino vs. Naruto

Naruto sat alone in a damp basement high ceiling and walls dripping with water. He knew the place well and hated with a passion. He stood following a familiar path down the dark halls, unable to resist gazing around in wonder. ‘I never come here unless I need its strength. Why am I here?’ He made several sharp turns, the large cathedral size room coming in view. On the far side of the room, massive iron gates in the center a symbol across the bars. The sealing technique left by the Fourth Hokage. Naruto shuddered; it always made him feel that way when he entered their chamber.

The blond ninja step forward slowly the low grumble of its breathing echoing around him his skin vibrated as a chill inched down his spine. With every step the unease lessened until he felt no fear only annoyance at being here when he did not need to be. As a child, he remembered this place as the dark halls he would wander for hours the Nine Tail Fox not revealing its location for years. The loneliest times of his life spent lost in this dark damp world. The place a familiar epitome of his life in the Hidden Leaf, wandering aimlessly around with no one unnoticed. Now the dam fox wants him to be here when time and need does not call for the Red Power.

The blond brow knitted in anger glaring at the darkness behind the iron bars. “What do you want with me!” Naruto stated firmly; they did not share a relationship that allowed the simple pleasures of polite conversations. He would gladly not have the Red Power; but he knew the demon would wreak havoc on the Hidden Leaf. Naruto never once fully trusted its advice or warnings. The creature in Naruto’s opinion one motive is to escape this prison, where it is condemned to die at the end of his life.

Red chakra billows out between the bars as a humongous visage fills the massive chamber within. The rumble caused the chamber to quake, the entire room swaying. Naruto stands his ground, sardonic glare in place. An evil sarcastic laugh precedes its words, the voice a cavernous growl. “It is nice to see you again as well, container.” Naruto’s scowl deepen, “Heh Heh, Heh” The gigantic jaws snapping open and close as it laughed.

“Answer now or I’m leaving!”

The laugh ceased although the amusement in the evil voice remained. “You think you can?” It laughed again as Naruto stood still knowing the creature would only have him walking in circles until at last he returned to this chamber.

“You have enjoyed yourself enough, tell me what you want so we do not need to be in each others company any more than we are.” Anger revealed in each word, as he controlled the urge to shout at the beast.

“That’s amusing; ‘not in each others company’” It mocked, “We are one body with two spirits. What an idiot you are!” A loud spiteful growl followed the end of his words. Naruto gritted his teeth fuming not to respond back.

‘No matter what I say it will only continue to delay giving me answers.’ He turned his back on it, starting toward the entrance the beast still laughing.

“Why did you mark that creature?” Naruto stop his back to the beast. “What makes you think I have accepted it as our mate?” The blond head turned slowly his features twisted in rage. “I don’t consider him worthy, I prefer Uchiha.” The demon fox continued maliciously grinning at the increased anger in the blue eyes.

“You Fucking Fox!” Naruto’s temper collapsed charging toward the iron bars, screaming at the top of his voice. His face horribly twisted as he stormed his rebukes at the beast. “YOU DON’T CHOOSE FOR ME! I CHOOSE WHO I WANT! I MARK WHO I WANT! WHEN I WANT, YOU FUCKING FOX!!” Naruto stood panting out of breath his throat burning from his tirade at the grinning creature.

Laughing still as it spoke again; “You think you are in control?!” Flashing its eyes up at the nothing ceiling that ended in darkness; “Such a pathetic creature you are, although very amusing. I will see who is worthy for myself.” The growling laugh echo around Naruto as it retreated further back in its cell the face a shadow within the darkness.

“What are you talking about?!” He stormed; only more of the beast dark malicious laughter met his ears. Naruto turned running at full speed toward the exit, he had to find his way out; fast.

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Shino laid across his bed again his mind on his pointless conversation with Sasuke, ‘That guy annoys me to no end.’ Turning his gaze to the sleeping Hyuga, who returned much later than Shino had expected. Excusing him to get rest, they would have their meeting in the morning.

Neji, slept with his hands folded over his chest in a loosely fitting white shirt and knee length bottoms; Shino thought it strange that Neji could lie down and not move until he woke ‘They say I’m creepy.’ He smiled lightly since the nightmare; he did not sleep but allowed himself to rest Naruto on the bed to his left.

Turning on his side Shino watched the golden features Naruto’s mouth open slightly as were the blue eyes, moving under the lids slowly. The other person he needed to speak with. ‘Uzumaki, this will be our first and last mission once I return I will need to lead my clan. This has been an unusual mission. I enjoyed this time with you.’ The various versions of his confession to his love passing through his mind, as Narutos eyes closed blocking the blue from view. Shino turned on his back staring at the dawning morning through the high windows, ‘Tomorrow we would leave for the Hidden Leaf, I can’t wait to get home but I wish Naruto would come live with me.’

The weight on his mattress caused him to look startled he did not sense the movement, the Kikai agitated; Naruto crouched on the left side of his bed face turned away.

*It is Uzumaki, calm yourselves*

“What are you doing Naruto, you are too close.” Shino said softly so as not to wake their sleeping comrade, the Kikai still unnerved, by the intrusive blond ninja.

Naruto snickered his voice deep. “Aburame Shino, I am glad we have this time to get to know each other.” The blond ninja spoke with a gravely hush. The tan hand shot forward, grabbing the front of Shino’s shirt pulling the sun glassed face forward. Shino’s hands grabbing Naruto’s wrist in astonishment his brow knitting as the smirking blond turned to face him.

“Well, I can see what he likes about you.” The red eyes with slits for pupils glared closely at the face filling with rage. “Now, you want to remain calm because I have a bad temper. I just want to talk, is that alright?” Naruto said an obnoxious amusement in his tone, squeezing the bug user tighter.

Shino gripped the wrist holding him; wondering what happen to Naruto, “What’s going on Uzumaki? Unless you want to suffer you better let go of me now!” He hissed not surprised when he snickered again shaking his head.

“You are not slow.” Leaning very close to the dark shades it whispered. “I am not that pathetic creature.” Moving back admiring the changes in Shino’s face as the words sank in.

“Who are you?” He demanded.

*Do not harm Naruto if necessary we will subdue him, stay ready*

“Heh, Heh, Heh” Naruto’s nose and mouth seem to elongate subtly as Shino stared. “Why would he mark a worthless piece of shit like you we want Uchiha Sasuke.” The malevolent voice cut deep into the Aburame’s soul. The words from Naruto’s mouth he felt sick his own wicked temper erupted.

Shino bared his teeth, both hands flung forward grabbing Naruto’s neck his Kikai instantly swarmed attacking this evil version of his lover. Naruto laughed red chakra oozing out of his body the Kikai that touched him died quickly. “Remember this!” He threw Shino, bodily onto the marble floor between their beds, following him as he went due to the hold on his own neck; but also to land on top on him punching him in the chest Shino’s hands loosing their grip.

An excruciating pain knocking the wind out of him as his chest caved in several inches. However before Naruto could jump away Shino curled his knee to his chest delivering a powerful kick to golden ninja’s abdomen. Forcing fox imposter across the room crashing into a wall, Neji jumped up as Shino closed in attacking again the pain in his chest slowing him.

“Shino!” Neji yelled not knowing why the two are fighting or how he should assist.

Throwing a powerful punch at Naruto’s face the blond blocked it easily only to crouch and kick Shino in the jaw. The dark shades flew off Naruto’s speed unassailable. Shino lost his balance as Naruto continued throwing his shoulders and elbow into Shino’s abs laughing mockingly.

Crashing to the floor, with Naruto on top one hand gripping his throat the other pulling back to deliver a punch; Shino shouted at Neji “STAY OUT OF IT!!”

Neji froze, “What are you saying he’s kicking your ass!”

Shino narrowly dodged the first punch, the hand colliding with the marble floor; his eyes widened hearing the bone break Naruto’s hand, however the blond ninja still swung the fist sideways bruising Shino’s cheek pain reverberating through his entire face. ‘He is not himself, I must stop him.’

“NARUTO!” Shino shouted at the red eyes over him.

Images flashed before his eyes of every moment they spent alone and on missions; times back as far as school when he moved about like a shadow among his peers always noticing Naruto’s happy face and loud voice calling everyone to join him.

The second punch landed on his jaw as he turned away from it; finding his strength understanding the technique is costly; a massive number of Kikai swarmed out Neji jumped back activating his Byakugan.

The Kikai dieing by the hundreds as Naruto laughed viciously. “Bastard that won’t work on me!” Then he gagged, as the bug clone grabbed him from behind the tiny insects melting at the contact point with Naruto’s skin.

*‘What are you waiting for, we are dieing!*

Without further hesitation, Shino attacked his body feeling weak but able to land several powerful punches to the blond face and chest as the clone dragged him back kicking in fury at the double team. The Clone melted into a swarm of Kikai unable to keep the technique up due to the red chakra. Now with an advantage of the injured blond Shino jumped on top of him flipping the guy over forcing his face in the marble floor with a definitive crack one red eye looking back at him as shoved his knees into Naruto’s back forcing the blonds arm painfully up between the shoulder blades.

“You haven’t proved anything.” He hissed through bloody teeth unable to move, Naruto’s body reacting poorly to the extensive use to his power.

“NARUTO! WAKE UP!” Shino shouted Neji telling him to calm down.

“Next time I won’t hold back, Aburame.” He growled, “We want Uchiha!”

The words snapped the little patience Shino had punching the blond unconscious.

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Sitting on the edge of the bed watching Neji treat Naruto wounds while he nursed his own injuries his anger still simmering. He did not stop punching the small ninja until Neji pulled him off. Shino tried to focus on wrapping his bruised knuckles and not the black and blue face on the bed across his him. “How is he Neji?”

Neji Byakugan showed him ever detail of Naruto’s condition. “He’s looks worse on the outside, I did think you broke his nose but he’s fine. The hands just a minor fracture he’s ok for the most part.” He shifted his gaze to Shino. “You got a lot more things to worry about.” He stood crouching down in front of Shino taking the bandages he tried to wrap with his right hand. “This finger is broken I’ll set it for you.” Shino nodded his gaze on Naruto; he did not flinch as Neji straightened the bone on his left hand and began to bandage it.

“What were you fighting about?” Neji ventured.

“Nothing do not speak of it I need to talk with him alone first.”

“Understood, but anyone can see.” His gaze lifting to the bruises on Shino’s olive complexion; “You have a hair line fracture in your jaw I can heal that.” Neji sat on the bed next to the bug lord using his chakra to heal the break staring at the slanting violet eyes. “This is the first time I’ve seen your eyes, why do you hide them?” Shino focused on the white eyes next to him, Neji he always viewed as a rival.

“It is a custom, nothing more.” He said evasively. “I feel much better thank you.” Neji continued to stare at the bones in Shino’s face still forcing his technique to heal.

“Feeling better and being are to different things. Just be patient I’m nearly done you are still in a lot of pain and your chakra is dangerously low, lie down.”

“I will not until he wakes he seemed like a different person.” The door opened, neither ninja look at the one entering. Neji because he focused on Shino’s face seeing no other breaks. Shino at the sound of the footsteps reached immediately for his glasses on the table closing his eyes before he put them on.

“What’s going on? I thought we would meet outside.” Sasuke stood in the door staring at the back of Shino’s head; Neji sitting close to him stood walking over to the other bed with Naruto. The quickness of the movement caused him to look more closely. ‘What the hell?’ he glared at Shino.

The dark shades turned halfway to him the face with noticeable bruises on his left cheek and lower jaw. “Uchiha we will train at another time.” He turned back to the bed with Naruto.

Sasuke followed his gaze the sights not measuring up until he saw Naruto injured face. “What the fuck happen to his face, somebody start talking now!” He stepped over to the bed Neji placing a wet towel on Naruto’s purple eye. “Neji what happen!”

Neji rose, “Get out of my way!” He stalked pass him, as Sasuke went to grab him Shino, reached Sasuke wrist first, squeezing it firmly.

“Uchiha, this was a little sparring match; that is all. You should leave make sure everything is ready for tomorrow.” He released him, stepping back his chest throbbing.

“You think I’m an idiot, sparring?” He looked down at his comrade he could not remember seeing him so badly beaten. “You went to far Aburame; you don’t think I will let you get away with that?” He threatened.

Shino turned away seething in rage knowing he did not have the strength to back up any threat. “Hmm.” He chuckled, “Just when I thought I was done proving myself, now you want to challenge me?”

The raven hissed dangerously. “Step outside, there won’t be any surprise attacks this time, you son of a bitch.”

Shino felt tired shaking his head slightly at Neji’s gaze; a silent message not to interfere. “You don’t learn too quickly do you, Uchiha?” he turned around to face the dark eyes. “This is not about avenging your friend, if Naruto considers you such. This is about jealousy, seeing the blond was able to land more than a few punches; kind of pisses you off huh.” He chuckled again, the act causing his chest to ache.

“Well, it will be what it is; step outside, so we may discuss it further.” The Sharingan eyes glared into him.

Neji can see the injury in Shino’s chest he had overlooked. “Sasuke you dick! You can see he’s hurt and you still want to fight; I will …”

“No you won’t.” Shino cut him off. “His opponent is me.” Naruto’s last words twisting in his stomach; he tilted his head lightly. “However, I will not leave you with your life this time, Uchiha. Naruto will not be there to stop me.”

“Oh the fear of your words has me breathless; shut up and fight.” ‘This guy is not going to stand a chance against me.’

Reaching over his shoulder from behind placing an arm around the raven’s neck, he pressed the sharp point of a kunai into the pale neck. A deep voice whispered in his ear. “Shall we begin Uchiha, by the way I win.”

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I really blew this one, sorry for the late update, this one is a lot longer than some of the others. Working on next update! Soon to follow, Thanks for reading.xD!